A
nyone who makes it to
the professional level of
motorcycle racing, regard
-
less of discipline, is a talented
individual.
But there are those, like Steve
Wise, who can lay claim to
professional status in multiple
disciplines, such as motocross,
flat track and road racing.
Like a precursor to the great
Jean-Michel Bayle, Wise knew
how to get the best from a mo
-
torcycle regardless of its intend-
ed purpose.
After a career focusing on
tabletops and berms, the early
1980s saw Wise switch to the
blacktop and land a factory ride
with the American Honda outfit
as teammate to Mike Baldwin
in an era that included some of
the greatest names to grace the
AMA Superbike grid—such as
Wayne Rainey, Fred Merkel and
Wes Cooley, plus, when their
schedule allowed, European-
based grand prix heroes like
Randy Mamola, Freddie Spencer
and Kenny Roberts.
Wise's first and only AMA
Superbike victory came at a
soaking Mid-Ohio during the
fourth round of the 1982 AMA
Superbike Championship Series.
At the time, the AMA champion
-
ship would see riders competing
in several classes including the
(almost) anything goes Formula
One class, which at Mid-Ohio
saw the grid filled with all makes
of machines including Honda
NS500 and Suzuki RG500 grand
prix two-strokes, a Ducati Pantah
TT600, Wise on the Honda 750cc
V4 Interceptor, Kawasaki and
Suzuki superbikes, even a Harley-
Davidson XR1000 in the hands of
Dave Emde.
"Mid-Ohio was a real highlight
of my racing career," Wise said.
"It showed my versatility as a
racer. It was a big high, because
nobody had, or nobody will prob
-
ably ever again, be at the top of
many classifications, motocross,
road racing and even flat track—
I got third at the Houston TT
[1982]. And there was the Super-
bikers." Wise won that legendary
event twice, and very nearly three
times.
Winning Mid-Ohio was just one
of several highlights of Wise's ca
-
reer, one of his most memorable
CNIIARCHIVES
P114
BY RENNIE SCAYSBROOK
STEVE WISE:
FIRST (AND LAST) SUPERBIKE WIN
Winner Steve Wise celebrates his first
and only AMA Superbike win at Mid-Ohio
on the podium with Fred Merkel and Jimmy
Adamo.
PHOTOS: BERT SHEPARD
